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Benefits of Soaring Flight。
There was； Mr。 Lanchester proceeded； some possibility
of the aeronaut reducing the power needed for transport
by his adopting the principle of soaring flight； as
exemplified by some birds。 There were； he continued； two
different modes of soaring flight。 In the one the bird
made use of the upward current of air often to be found
in the neighborhood of steep vertical cliffs。 These cliffs
deflected the air upward long before it actually reached
the cliff； a whole region below being thus the seat of
an upward current。 Darwin has noted that the condor
was only to be found in the neighborhood of such cliffs。
Along the south coast also the gulls made frequent use
of the up currents due to the nearly perpendicular chalk
cliffs along the shore。
In the tropics up currents were also caused by
temperature differences。 Cumulus clouds； moreover； were
nearly always the terminations of such up currents of
heated air； which； on cooling by expansion in the upper
regions； deposited their moisture as fog。 These clouds
might； perhaps； prove useful in the future in showing
the aeronaut where up currents were to he found。 An…
other mode of soaring flight was that adopted by the
albatross； which took advantage of the fact that the air
moved in pulsations； into which the bird fitted itself；
being thus able to extract energy from the wind。
Whether it would be possible for the aeronaut to employ
a similar method must be left to the future to decide。
Main Difficulties in Aviation。
In practical flight difficulties arose in starting and in
alighting。 There was a lower limit to the speed at
which the machine was stable； and it was inadvisable to
leave the ground till this limit was attained。 Similarly；
in alighting it was inexpedient to reduce the speed below
the limit of stability。 This fact constituted a difficulty
in the adoption of high speeds； since the length of run
needed increased in proportion to the square of the
velocity。 This drawback could； however； be surmounted
by forming starting and alighting grounds of ample size。
He thought it quite likely in the future that such grounds
would be considered as essential to the flying machine
as a seaport was to an ocean…going steamer or as a road
was to the automobile。
Requisites of Flying Machine。
Flying machines were commonly divided into monoplanes
and biplanes； according as they had one or two
supporting surfaces。 The distinction was not； however；
fundamental。 To get the requisite strength some form
of girder framework was necessary； and it was a mere
question of convenience whether the supporting surface
was arranged along both the top and the bottom of this
girder； or along the bottom only。 The framework adopted
universally was of wood braced by ties of pianoforte
wire； an arrangement giving the stiffness desired with
the least possible weight。 Some kind of chassis was also
necessary。
CHAPTER XXIII。
AMATEURS MAY USE WRIGHT PATENTS。
Owing to the fact that the Wright brothers have enjoined
a number of professional aviators from using
their system of control； amateurs have been slow to
adopt it。 They recognize its merits； and would like to
use the system； but have been apprehensive that it
might involve them in litigation。 There is no danger
of this； as will be seen by the following statement made
by the Wrights：
What Wright Brothers Say。
〃Any amateur； any professional who is not exhibiting
for money； is at liberty to use our patented devices。
We shall be glad to have them do so； and there will be
no interference on our part； by legal action； or otherwise。
The only men we proceed against are those who； without
our permission； without even asking our consent；
coolly appropriate the results of our labors and use them
for the purpose of making money。 Curtiss； Delagrange；
Voisin； and all the rest of them who have used our
devices have done so in money…making exhibitions。 So
long as there is any money to be made by the use of the
products of our brains； we propose to have it ourselves。
It is the only way in which we can get any return for
the years of patient work we have given to the problem
of aviation。 On the other hand； any man who wants
to use these devices for the purpose of pleasure； or the
advancement of science； is welcome to do so； without
money and without price。 This is fair enough； is it not？〃
Basis of the Wright Patents。
In a flying machine a normally flat aeroplane having
lateral marginal portions capable of movement to different
positions above or below the normal plane of the
body of the aeroplane； such movement being about an
axis transverse to the line of flight； whereby said lateral
marginal portions may be moved to different angles relatively
to the normal plane of the body of the aeroplane；
so as to present to the atmosphere different angles
of incidence； and means for so moving said lateral marginal
portions； substantially as described。
Application of vertical struts near the ends having
flexible joints。
Means for simultaneously imparting such movement
to said lateral portions to different angles relatively to
each other。
Refers to the movement of the lateral portions on the
same side to the same angle。
Means for simultaneously moving vertical rudder so
as to present to the wind that side thereof nearest the
side of the aeroplane having the smallest angle of incidence。
Lateral stability is obtained by warping the end wings
by moving the lever at the right hand of the operator；
connection being made by wires from the lever to the
wing tips。 The rudder may also be curved or warped in
similar manner by lever action。
Wrights Obtain an Injunction。
In January； 1910； Judge Hazel； of the United States
Circuit Court； granted a preliminary injunction restraining
the Herring…Curtiss Co。； and Glenn H。 Curtiss； from
manufacturing； selling； or using for exhibition purposes
the machine known as the Curtiss aeroplane。 The injunction
was obtained on the ground that the Curtiss
machine is an infringement upon the Wright patents in
the matter of wing warping and rudder control。
It is not the purpose of the authors to discuss the
subject pro or con。 Such discussion would have no proper
place in a volume of this kind。 It is enough to say that
Curtiss stoutly insists that his machine is not an
infringement of the Wright patents； although Judge Hazel
evidently thinks differently。
What the Judge Said。
In granting the preliminary injunction the judge said：
〃Defendants claim generally that the difference in
construction of their apparatus causes the equilibrium or
lateral balance to be maintained and its aerial movement
secured upon an entirely different principle from that
of complainant； the defendants' aeroplanes are curved；
firmly attached to the stanchions and hence are incapable